Protection and restoration of ayres point oyster reefs the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $2,063,726 in federal funding to mission-aransas national estuarine…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded a $2,063,726 Cooperative Agreement under the Office for Coastal Management (CFDA 11.473) program to the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) for the restoration of 11.5 acres of oyster reef along Ayres Point in the Mesquite Bay complex. This project will increase climate resilience of coastal communities within the surrounding coastal counties through habitat restoration planning, engineering and design, implementation, and land conservation activities. Specifically, the restored oyster reef structure will be constructed in a closed area to facilitate recruitment and growth, while also providing oyster larvae to support surrounding open and closed oyster reefs. The restored reef complex will create a diverse habitat to support recreationally and commercially important fish and invertebrate species. The award period is from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2027.

Protection and restoration of ayres point oyster reefs the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $2,063,726 in federal funding to mission-aransas national estuarine research reserve through the FY2023 bipartisan infrastructure law national estuarine research reserve habitat restoration and conservation competition. This funding will increase climate resilience of coastal communities within coastal counties through habitat restoration planning, engineering and design projects, habitat restoration implementation projects, and land conservation projects. Specifically, the mission-aransas national estuarine research reserve will use these funds for the restoration of 11.5 acres of oyster reef along ayres point in the mesquite BAY complex that provides shoreline and marsh habitat protection, and supports a broad diversity of species. The restored oyster reef structure will be constructed in an area closed to commercial harvest, facilitating recruitment and growth of oysters and providing oyster larvae to surrounding oyster reefs in both open and closed waters. The restored oyster reef complex will have the added benefit of creating a complex habitat for numerous recreationally and commercially important fish and invertebrate species.